About 1,800 castle-like towers dot the landscape around Kaiping, a Chinese city near Guangzhou in the Pearl River Delta. Some of the towers date to the Ming dynasty. Others were constructed in the early 20th century and bear obvious Western influences.
The towers of Kaiping —
About 1,800 castle-like towers dot the landscape around Kaiping, a Chinese city near Guangzhou in the Pearl River Delta. Some of the towers date to the Ming dynasty. Others were constructed in the early 20th century and bear obvious Western influences.
courtesy Kaiping Travel Resource Development Centre
A flamboyant fusion of Chinese and Western design, Kaiping's diaolou (watchtowers) were originally built as a defense against bandit raids. In the 20th century, as Chinese emigres returned from overseas with newfound riches, they became symbols of wealth and status.
Fusion architecture —
A flamboyant fusion of Chinese and Western design, Kaiping's diaolou (watchtowers) were originally built as a defense against bandit raids. In the 20th century, as Chinese emigres returned from overseas with newfound riches, they became symbols of wealth and status.
courtesy Kaiping Travel Resource Development Centre
In 2007, Kaiping received a UNESCO Heritage Site listing for its diaolou.
Fields and fortresses —
In 2007, Kaiping received a UNESCO Heritage Site listing for its diaolou.
courtesy Kaiping Travel Resource Development Centre
There are three types of diaolou -- residential, communal and defensive.
Watchtowers and residences —
There are three types of diaolou -- residential, communal and defensive.
courtesy Kaiping Travel Resource Development Centre
Regular flooding in the Kaiping area was another reason for building residential towers.
Kaiping high-rise —
Regular flooding in the Kaiping area was another reason for building residential towers.
courtesy Kaiping Travel Resource Development Centre
The steep climb to the top of a diaolou isn't easy. The reward is a view like this.
Panoramic views —
The steep climb to the top of a diaolou isn't easy. The reward is a view like this.
courtesy Shunqi Lin
In the early 20th century, many Kaiping residents emigrated abroad. Some returned home with great wealth, bringing back trends and ideas from the Western world and incorporating these new ideas into the city's existing tower tradition.
Melting pot —
In the early 20th century, many Kaiping residents emigrated abroad. Some returned home with great wealth, bringing back trends and ideas from the Western world and incorporating these new ideas into the city's existing tower tradition.
courtesy Kaiping Travel Resource Development Centre
In 1936, wealthy businessman Weili Xie built Li Garden, Kaiping's most iconic diaolou complex.
Li Garden —
In 1936, wealthy businessman Weili Xie built Li Garden, Kaiping's most iconic diaolou complex.
courtesy courtesy Kaiping Travel Resource Development Centre
A private canal was built next to Li Garden, connecting to waterways leading to Hong Kong (about 133 kilometers from Kaiping in a direct line). Foreign construction material was brought in via the canal.
Extravagant touches —
A private canal was built next to Li Garden, connecting to waterways leading to Hong Kong (about 133 kilometers from Kaiping in a direct line). Foreign construction material was brought in via the canal.
courtesy Shunqi Lin
Li Garden owner Weili Xie built this pavilion shaped like a birdcage to entertain his second and favorite wife. (He had four.)
Gilded cage —
Li Garden owner Weili Xie built this pavilion shaped like a birdcage to entertain his second and favorite wife. (He had four.)
courtesy Shunqi Lin
The villages of Kaiping still look much the way they did in centuries past.
Time travel —
The villages of Kaiping still look much the way they did in centuries past.
courtesy Shunqi Lin
Due to massive emigration from the area, almost every Kaiping family has relatives overseas, says Liwen Huang of the Tourism Administration of Kaiping Travel Resource Development Center.
Stories from abroad —
Due to massive emigration from the area, almost every Kaiping family has relatives overseas, says Liwen Huang of the Tourism Administration of Kaiping Travel Resource Development Center.
courtesy Kaiping Travel Resource Development Centre